The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-12-14
WESTERN WOOL.
A Texas Wool-Grower Who Says Ruin VIII,
Follow a Reduction of the Tariff

A Texas Wool-Grower Who Says Ruin VIII
Follow a Reduction of the Tariff
st. Louis Post Dispatch
Ernst Kuestner, large wool-erower of New
Braunfels, Tex, who has been in the city 70.
several DAYS fell into conversation with re-
porter in the corridor of the Laclede Hotel con-
corning the present condition of the wool market
and the effect that lowering of the tariff would
have upon the wool growing interests Of the
country. 1.-THE different wool-producing sec,
tions would be affected in very different de-
grees by the removal of the tariff upon wool y
said Mr.. Kuestner, las the wool industry is
simple, but very complex in its nature. Should
tba gates be let down. and foreign wool be ad
mitted free, or the present tariff materially re-
duced, the ruin of every sheep man west of the
Missouri would follow, and we of Texas would
be the greatest and most immediate
sufferers. The farmers OF Missouri, Ilil-
bois. Indiana, Ohio and the Eastern States
generally would suffer, but not nearly TO the
same extent. The reason of this is that in the
Eastern States mono but fine breeds of sheep
are raised, the wool is washed, and is generally
far better than that from the sheep ranges OF
the West. The result of . reduction OF the
tariff would be the flooding Of the market with
immense quantity of South American wool.
the Argentine Republic being one of the great
est sheep countries in the world These sheep
like those of our Western ranches, range at
large and are not carefully shielded every night,
neither is the wool washed on the animals back
before shearing. as is the case in our Eastern
States. 1t therefore would not enter into direct
competition with our farm wool. but would
drive from the market that produced by the
ranges where wool Is grown under similar con-
diuons. To understand the question it should
be borne In mind that the Eastern breeds Of
sheep belong to the English varieties, principally
merinoes though there are some Cotswods. the
latter. however. being principally valuable for
their mutton. The basis of the Texas, New Mexico
and Colorado flocks, on the other hand is thu
Mexican sheep, which from its hardness and
ability to resist the inclemencies of the weather,
will live where better breeds cannot exist Tho
difference In wool-producing capacity, not
speak of the quality, Is great, q fine merino
shearing from twelve to fourteen pounds. while
two and half is a large average for . Mexican
flock OF course. the Mexican breed has been
repeatedly crossed to improve the wool-bsaring
capacity, but this crossing cannot be carried
very far without rendering the sheep too delicate
to stand any seventies of climate. In Colorado
they have produced q cross that shears from six
to eight pounds, but the terrible losses of the
last few years have proved that thif
sheep is not hardy enough. In New
Mexico four-pound fleece is as high
as most hocks average. and six-pound clip
is good for Texas These weights but little
higher than those of the Argentine Republic,
and the wool is of about the same grade. and
would therefore directly compete with us.
There is question whatever that the South
American wool is far cheaper, and its admis.
sion free would render it utterly impossible
for single sheep-raiser to continue in tins
business.